This is a record of my journey as a Muslim. I used to be Catholic and belonged to a missionary organisation. After my conversion, I sat on the board of a Muslim converts' organisation and specialised in da'wah programmes, convert management, interfaith issues and apostasy cases. I am an initiate of a Sufi order. As such, the articles and writings tend to cover these areas.
All the Arabic and graphics could not have been done without the help of my wife, Zafirah.

Friday, 26 October 2012

Shaykh Nazhim's (q.s.) Advise for Habib 'Ali al-Jifri

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ
ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The
following is an exchange between Shaykh Muhammad Nazhim Adil al-Haqqani (q.s.) and Habib ‘Ali al-Jifri on the 23rd
November 2010. This event took place
when he came to visit Shaykh Nazhim (q.s.)
in Lefke. This swuhbah concerns Sulthan al-‘Arifin,
Shaykh Abu Yazid al-Bistami (q.s.),
the sixth Grand Shaykh of the Naqshbandi
Thariqa’, whose maqam is in Damascus, though some say it is in Iran.

Shaykh
Nazhim (q.s.) said every human being
is in dread of Judgement Day. Who does not
fear to be Judged in the Divine Presence on that Day. Shaykh Abu Yazid al-Bistami’s (q.s.) heart was always yearning for that
Day. He said, “I would love to hear my
Lord Call me on that Day!” What else can
he desire? After hearing Him Call out his
name, even if He were to Hurl him into Hell, it would not matter. Shaykh Abu Yazid al-Bistami (q.s.) would not fear all the Fires of
Hell, just as he would not find happiness even if Allah (s.w.t.) Gave him all the Heavens in exchange for the ecstasy
experienced after having been Called by Him.
It is such an honour, such sweetness, to hear Him Call our names. And after He has Judged Shaykh Abu Yazid
al-Bistami (q.s.) and Asks him his
need, Shaykh Abu Yazid al-Bistami’s (q.s.)
reply would be that he needs nothing more than this. It is enough for him, from pre-eternity to
eternity; to hear the Divine Calling his name. Allah (s.w.t.),
His Attributes and His Words, are Eternal. Were He to Call us, we would hear it forever. That is all we need. One in such state has no desire for the
Heavens and no fear of the Fire.

Habib
‘Ali al-Jifri said they ask only for forgiveness and sincerity, to which Shaykh
Nazhim (q.s.) replied he is no one to
grant anything. After all, will Allah (s.w.t.) not make Rasulullah (s.a.w.) happy by Granting Forgiveness
and Safety to his ummah? For sure, Rasulullah (s.a.w.) will be sad to lose even one of his ummah to the Fire. In such a
case, will He Throw even one of His servants into the Fire?

Habib
‘Ali reiterated that Allah (s.w.t.)
has Promised Rasulullah (s.a.w.) not
to let him down. Thus, he asks for sincerity
and forgiveness as he feels ashamed towards Allah (s.w.t.). Shaykh Nazhim (q.s.) asked gently, if we truly feel
ashamed in all reality. Modesty has long
since been Removed from this Earth when Jibril (a.s.) came to remove haya’
from the Earth. The people of yesterday
were ashamed to commit sins before Allah (s.w.t.),
but not the people of today.

Habib
‘Ali said they ask knowledge and guidance from the Treasures. Shaykh Nazhim (q.s.) said, Rasulullah (s.a.w.)
had asked Allah (s.w.t.) to Grant
this for his ummah and Allah (s.w.t.) Replied that this is a Forgiven ummah, Covered in Mercy. We are Ummat
un-Marhumah wa Ummat un-Maghfurah. Shaykh
Nazhim (q.s.) asked, if we had forty
children, would we accept if even one of them was taken away by a sultan? Would that bring us comfort? Habib ‘Ali replied in the negative.

Shaykh
Nazhim (q.s.) said, Rasulullah (s.a.w.) is the Mercy to all Creation. Allah (s.w.t.)
Grants his ud’iyyah until his heart
is satisfied. And Rasulullah (s.a.w.) will not be satisfied, until
everyone who believes, is saved by Allah (s.w.t.). Habib ‘Ali confirmed that Allah (s.w.t.) Said:

Shaykh
Nazhim (q.s.) said, we must understand,
for it is the door of happiness, that is, we must be happy to have a Forgiving
Lord. We must never lose hope in Allah’s
(s.w.t.) Mercy and Forgiveness. He is always Forgiving towards a repentant believer.

Habib
‘Ali said Shaykh Nazhim (q.s.) is our
door to happiness. In a hadits, the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “Speak of happiness and
mercy, to make people’s hearts happy.”
Shaykh Nazhim (q.s.) asked, is
not Allah (s.w.t.) the Forgiver? Who will He Forgive? Is the Forgiveness for the Prophet (s.a.w.)?
His Forgiveness is for the sinners.

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Verily We have Granted thee a manifest victory:
That Allah may Forgive thee thy faults of the past and those to follow; Fulfill
His Favour to thee; and Guide thee on the Straight Way; (Surah al-Fath:1-2)

The
sins of the past and future, have been Forgiven. This is for those who sincerely repent. None can pass the Scrutiny and Judgement of
Allah (s.w.t.). None is fit to stand before Him. It has been set since the Day of Alastu bi ar-Rabbikum, the Day of Promises
that every wali has been given his disciples
and they will accompany them for eternity.
Shaykh Nazhim (q.s.) said, qalu bala’. This had been assigned from the Day of
Promises. We are His Muslim servants. Allah (s.w.t.)
will never throw us into the Fire and we thank Allah (s.w.t.) for that. We must be
aware of one thing though. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “Allah has Educated me
with the best of manners.” Those with
the best of manners will be in the Divine Presence, but the ill-mannered will
be placed in stables where they can fulfill their carnal desires, eat and
drink. Although all of the ummah of Muhammad (s.a.w.) will eventually be saved, there are different types of
Paradises – some will be near to Allah (s.w.t.),
others, will be Veiled. The Prophet (s.a.w.) was Sent to perfect human
conduct. Thus, we must not be satisfied
just to practice the bare minimum in Islam. We must strive to be the foremost in faith,
the best of the believers. It is these
believers who will be nearest to Allah (s.w.t.).

And ye shall be Sorted out into three
classes. Then (there will be) the
Companions of the Right Hand ― what will be the Companions of the Right
Hand? And the Companions of the Left
hand ― what will be the Companions of the Left Hand? And those Foremost (in faith) will be
Foremost (in the Hereafter). These will
be those Nearest to Allah: (Surah al-Waqi’ah:7-11)

Shaykh
Nazhim (q.s.) says it is common
knowledge that animals will not be judged. He gives an example, that if we were a farmer
and an animal strayed into our field and ate our crops, we would probably
complain to the authorities about what happened in order to attain
compensation. But the judge will not ask
us to bring the animal to be a witness and to give testimony. It is the owner of that animal that will be
brought to court. So, many people are
like animals in their behaviour. Cattle
are never given responsibilities. Humans
today have animal-like attributes, so nowadays, everyone lives mindlessly, and
irresponsibly. So, we must have a
shepherd, a ‘lawyer’ who will plead for us in the Divine Court; we must seek a guide.
Those without a shaykh, take their ego as their guide.

Seest thou such a one as taketh for his god his
own passion (or impulse)? Couldst thou
be a disposer of affairs for him? Or
thinkest thou that most of them listen or understand? They are only like cattle; nay they are worse
astray in Path. (Surah al-Furqan:43-44)

If
we can evolve, and shed our animal characteristic, then we are no longer cattle.
We can reach our Divine stations. We must remove our bad manners and we must
strive to attain good manners. The ones
without good manners, are like animals. They cannot hold responsibility. The bad-mannered ones are placed in the
stables, far from the Palace. But the
clean ones, the good mannered ones, will be allowed into the Palace, to sit
with the King.

4 comments:

What do you mean I "must"? I do not have to put anything after anybody's name, unless it is the Prophet (s.a.w.) himself. Habib 'Ali is still alive. When he dies, and we are certain of his state, then we can talk about honorifics.